Tag Archives: Under The Radar Magazine

Apr 17 2013
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Album Reviews, Meanderings, Music News And Other Stuff

Under The Radar’s Top 100 Albums of 2012

TopAlbum_Final2_Opener_
Sorry for the mega delay on posting this. I highly suggest you check out UTR’s excellent list of the top 100 albums of 2012; it’s super thorough and I wrote blurbs on two of them (they’re down below).

Read the full list HERE.
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PMR018_CDA_Wal.indd#19
Jessie Ware
Devotion
Universal Island/PMR/Cherrytree

A critic’s darling on both sides of the Atlantic, Britain’s newest and most promising songstress Jessie Ware delivers on all 11 self-assured tracks of her debut album, Devotion. With wholehearted sincerity, Ware manages to weave an otherwise worn-out pop narrative of love, loss, and hope through a deliciously expressive tapestry of sexy synths and modern alternative R&B. Better watch your back, Sade. © Under The Radar Magazine
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TakenbyTrees_SC255#35
Taken By Trees
Other Worlds
Secretly Canadian

Swedish pop darling Victoria Bergsman sounds as confident as ever on her third solo outing as Taken By Trees. Whereas sophomore album East of Eden was recorded in Pakistan, Other Worlds takes its inspiration from a more relaxed locale, Hawaii. It’s a laidback and dub-infused pop album brimming with enough sophistication and culture to help while away a few hours on the beach or bring some sun to a cold winter’s day. © Under The Radar Magazine

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Aug 12 2012
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

Glen Campbell: Live In Japan

Originally published in UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

The last few years have been bittersweet for the 76-year-old Glen Campbell, who really is the godfather of the country-pop crossover hit. He’s made 70 albums, sold more than 45 million of them worldwide, and had 27 of his singles land in the country music Top 10. After two pretty-darn-good and unexpectedly successful cover albums, 2008′s Meet Glen Campbell and last year’s Ghost On The Canvas, Campbell’s enjoyed a renaissance of sorts and has been, more or less, on the road since 2008. His legacy was cemented at this year’s 54th Grammy Awards where he was paid tribute and given a Lifetime Achievement Award. So where’s the bitter? Last summer, Campbell announced he had Alzheimer’s and would embark on a final “Goodbye Tour,” which means retirement is being forced upon him.

READ THE FULL REVIEW

www.glencampbellmusic.com | www.undertheradarmag.com

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Jul 15 2012
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

ARETHA FRANKLIN – KNEW YOU WERE WAITING: THE BEST OF ARETHA FRANKLIN 1980-1998

Originally published in UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

It used to be both popular and lame for people to say things like, “Oh, I love everything such and such artist/band has done, except for their ’80s stuff.” You hear that less and less these days, and it probably has a lot to do with all the ’80s revivalism, nostalgia-pop, and record collection rock that’s come out of the last decade of popular music. I guess the further we get from the 1980s, the better that decade sounds. The 2000s saw revivals of everything from New-Wave to hair metal, from goth to Chicago house, and thanks to acts like Chromeo, a very specific brand of disco-infused funk and R&B got its second chance too. So then it’s no surprise that a collection of Aretha Franklin singles drawn primarily from the 1980s manages to sound, at times, both fresh and retro cool.

READ THE FULL REVIEW

www.arethafranklin.net | www.undertheradarmag.com

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May 21 2012
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts


Originally published in UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

“One of the many frustrating things about Norah Jones is what appears to be a total unwillingness to push herself beyond her lyrical and vocal comfort zones. She’s a gifted vocalist, a good-enough pianist, and a gracious performer, and yet—without exception—her first four studio albums sound like one long, tiresome song.”

READ THE FULL REVIEW

www.norahjones.com | www.undertheradarmag.com

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May 17 2012
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

CFCF – Exercises EP

My quickie for UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

Montréal-based DJ and electronic wizard Michael Silver (stage name CFCF) was once primarily associated with his remix work on tracks by the likes of Sally Shapiro, Crystal Castles, Azari & III, and tons of others.

READ THE FULL REVIEW

www.soundcloud.com/cfcf | www.undertheradarmag.com

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Dec 16 2011
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Meanderings, Music News And Other Stuff

Under The Radar Reveals Their Top 80 Albums of 2011

And YOURS TRULY wrote blurbs about three of ‘em, which can be read below. Head over to UNDER THE RADAR for the full list.

#19
Toro Y Moi
Underneath the Pine
Carpark

Toro Y Moi’s exotic Underneath the Pine is a top notch example of what a sophisticated and broadminded reordering of pop’s past can sound like, which in this case sounds like Innervisions for former chillwavers. Retromania, sure, but nostalgia is rarely approached with this much charm, charisma, and above all else, class. © Under The Radar Magazine

#24
Destroyer
Kaputt
MergeLurking in the shadows of 10+ years of ’80s revivalism and mimicry is a slow and steady indie uprising of ’70s soft rock impersonation. Destroyer’s Kaputt is not only one of 2011’s most exceptionally bizarre and beautiful albums, but it’s probably the first legit indie nod to Al Stewart. We’re not talking about Yacht Rock here; both Stewart and Destroyer (Dan Bejar) are way too fucking weird and brainy to be branded as such. Still, Kaputt’s slick production, silky smooth saxophones (à la Gaucho-era Steely Dan), and rich sonic textures make for an incredibly warm listening experience, especially when combined with what sounds like a love letter, and maybe even a final farewell, to years and years of partying and hipsterdom. © Under The Radar Magazine

#27
Wild Beasts
Smother
Domino

Smother is 2011’s follow-up to Wild Beasts’ nearly flawless sophomore album, Two Dancers, and it gets better with every listen. Better and more mysterious. It’s a divisive album, too, which no doubt garnered some new fans and alienated some old. This album is the sound of one of England’s best and brightest bands finding—and settling into—their often puzzling and peculiar footing. Smother is both dazzling and devastating in its portrayal of sex and masculinity, two topics of which Wild Beasts have been blowing off the conventional lid since their debut. © Under The Radar Magazine

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Oct 30 2011
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Meanderings, Music News And Other Stuff

Under The Radar Magazine Celebrates 10th Anniversary

It’s a milestone, indeed. That’s the cover right up there. Also, I’ve got lots of fun stuff in this issue, including my weigh-in on new albums from RYAN ADAMS, JUSTICE, DOMINANT LEGS and reissues/compilations from ELVIS PRESLEY and the revered Mancunian post-punk, new-wave label, FACTORY RECORDS.

Head over to UNDER THE RADAR for complete details.

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Oct 30 2011
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

JUSTICE: Audio, Video, Disco

For UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

“The Alan Parson’s Project on acid. That’s what I was thinking 30 seconds after “Horsepower,” the arresting opening track of the new Justice album—Audio, Video, Disco—started to pound its way out of my home stereo speakers.” READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE

Watch the official video for album highlight, “Civilization”:

JUSTICE – CIVILIZATION directed by Edouard Salier from edouard salier on Vimeo.

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Sep 26 2011
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

SPIN DOCTORS — “Pocket Full Of Kryptonite”

Spinmedium

For UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

“I was eight years old when Pocket Full of Kryptonite was released. Apparently 1991 was a big year for music, for example: R.E.M.’s Out of Time; the debut Smashing Pumpkins album, Gish; Seal’s enduring self-titled debut; Metallica’s Black Album; the debut Blur album, Leisure; Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik; Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls; Crowded House’s Woodface; Michael Jackson’s Dangerous; Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock; My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless; U2’s Achtung Baby; Pear Jam’s Ten; and Nirvana’s Nevermind were all released that year. I’m certain there were other important records, too, but that list is just to put things in perspective.” READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE

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Sep 26 2011
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Album Reviews, Meanderings

BLOOD ORANGE — “Coastal Grooves”

Blood_Orange_Coastal_Grooves_byAdamBainbridge

For UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE:

“Earlier this year Dev Hynes, best know for his work in Test Icicles and as Lightspeed Champion, unleashed the first single under his latest moniker Blood Orange. “Dinner” was co-produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor and then released as a tantalizing 7″ single on Taylor’s label, Terrible Records. With a much darker spin on early ’90s soul and R&B, “Dinner” was an instantly satisfying retro summer slow-jam, which featured Hynes’ lamenting in his half falsetto, ‘Hoping that you die unhappy/I’ll do everything I can/To make sure that you are never happy.’” READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE

WATCH the official music video for “Sutphin Boulevard”:

 

Blood Orange – Sutphin Boulevard from Blood Orange on Vimeo.

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